New York Aug 10 (IANS) US stocks closed mixed as investors digested a batch of key economic data and corporate earnings reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Thursday decreased 74.52 points or 0.29 per cent to 25 509.23. The S&P 500 was down 4.12 points or 0.14 per cent to 2 853.58 Xinhua news agency reported.
The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 3.46 points or 0.04 per cent to 7 891.78.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week suggesting that a strong economy was helping the labor market.

In the week ending August 4 the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 213 000 a decrease of 6 000 from the previous week s revised level the Labor Department said on Thursday. The previous week s level was revised up by 1 000 from 218 000 to 219 000.

The four-week moving average was 214 250 a decrease of 500 from the previous week s revised average. The previous week s average was revised up by 250 from 214 500 to 214 750 said the department.


--IANS pgh/